The Government’s plan to auction the Dartford Crossing as part of a £16bn asset sale has been attacked by council leaders.
Lord Hanningfield, leader of Essex CC, said the proposal put an end to the possibility of scrapping the tolls, which had recently been mooted by transport minister, Sadiq Khan (Surveyor, 9 October 2009).
‘How dare the Government decide to sell off an asset which was funded by Essex and Kent County Council taxpayers without consulting us,’ he said.
‘Just a month ago, ministers were telling us they were thinking of getting rid of the tolls as a way of helping British business, but now that looks to be in complete reverse.’
He said it was a ‘grab money now and think later move’ which would perpetuate tolls, since whoever bought the crossing would want to recoup their investment, ‘which itself could seriously threaten any long-term economic recovery’.
The Local Government Association warned the timing was not right to sell assets in order to cut the UK’s £175bn debt caused by the recession and banking crisis. LGA leader, Cllr Margaret Eaton, said: ‘It is disappointing that councils were not consulted about an announcement that could have serious ramifications for the state of their tightly-managed budgets.
‘Local government will dispose of assets if they are not required but, given the current financial climate, this is not a good time to sell. It needs to be local councils working with local people deciding when, or if, there is a right time to sell assets.’
She also warned: ‘If a council does not believe that a specific asset should be sold, how do we avoid protracted legal wrangling which would cost the taxpayer money?’ The Channel Tunnel rail link, Tote horse-racing bookmakers, and the student loan book are among other high-profile assets which will go under the hammer.
Downing Street officials said the asset sale could raise £16bn from a portfolio worth £220bn. The Liberal Democrats described the move as the biggest sell-off since the privatisations of the 1980s, but questioned whether now was the right time, if a good market price was to be achieved.
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